Don't be put off by fires, Australia tells tourists

[snoop1130]

Don't be put off by fires, Australia tells tourists

by Byron Kaye, Paulina Duran

 

A cordon tape with the word "Danger" is seen in front of a burnt down shop in the village of Mogo, Australia, January 8, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged foreign tourists not to be deterred by deadly wildfires that have razed large swathes and sent smoke as far as South America, even as authorities fretted about renewed dangers ahead.

 

Morrison made the plea on Wednesday as he visited Kangaroo Island, a usually wildlife-rich tourist attraction off the south coast hit twice in recent weeks by blazes.

 

“Australia is open, Australia is still a wonderful place to come and bring your family and enjoy your holidays,” Morrison told reporters after meeting tourism operators and farmers.

 

“Even here on Kangaroo Island, where a third of the island has obviously been decimated, two thirds of it is open and ready for business,” he said. “It’s important to keep the local economies vibrant at these times.”

 

Tourism accounts for 3.1 % of Gross Domestic Product and last summer season Australia attracted 2.71 million holidaymakers. But this year, hotel occupancy has dropped and some normally crowded resorts are ghost towns due to the crisis.

 

Officials confirmed another firefighter died in a vehicle crash last Friday while on duty, bringing the death toll to 26.

 

In Victoria state, authorities urged people in fire-risk areas to consider evacuating, ahead of a temperature spike on Friday that could fan fires.

 

 

“These fires remain dangerous, they remain dynamic, remain volatile, and the conditions we are going to see can give significant life to these fires,” Victoria Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville said.

 

Thousands of people are homeless due to fires that have scorched more than 10.3 million hectares (25.5 million acres) of land - an area the size of South Korea.

 

Many towns were without power and telecommunications and some were running low on drinking water supplies. Smoke has blanketed cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.

The bushfires follow a three-year drought that experts link to climate change and that has left bushland tinder-dry.

 

Following are latest events in the crisis:

 

* Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced an A$11 million ($7.56 million) relief package while visiting Kangaroo Island.

 

* The three major cities in Australia’s southeast, Sydney, Melbourne and the capital Canberra, were blanketed in thick smoke.

 

* Sixty-seven firefighters from the United States and Canada landed in Australia, joining 40 compatriots already on the ground. Australian authorities have requested another 140 personnel, who are expected in the next two weeks.

 

* A university of Sydney ecologist doubled his estimate of animals killed or injured in fires to 1 billion.

 

* Community leaders asked people to donate money instead of food and clothing because small communities are being overwhelmed by goods they do not need. Authorities also warned about online donation scams.

 

* Smoke has drifted across the Pacific, affected cities in South America, and may have reached the Antarctic, the U.N. World Meteorological Organization said.

 

* The fires have already emitted 400 megatonnes of carbon dioxide and produced harmful pollutants, the European Union’s Copernicus monitoring program said.

 

* Victoria Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville asked activists to “reconsider” a planned protest on Friday, suggesting it would distract police from fire zones.

 

* The group, Uni Students for Climate Justice, was undeterred, saying tens of thousands wanted to protest. “Cops are not worried about resources, they are worried about people standing up against the government’s inaction. The rallies on Friday are going ahead,” it said on Facebook.

 

* Moody’s Analytics said the cost of fires could easily surpass the deadly 2009 Black Saturday fires that destroyed 450,000 hectares of land at an estimated toll of A$4.4 billion.

 

* There are 129 fires ablaze across New South Wales state, with around 65 uncontained. All the fires were at “advice” level, the lowest alert. Victoria had 40 fires with 13 “watch and act” alerts.

 

* Prime Minister Morrison has pledged A$2 billion ($1.37 billion) to a new National Bushfire Recovery Agency.

 

* Britain’s Prince Charles joined a list of global figures sending support, referring to the “appalling horror unfolding in Australia” in a video.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-01-08

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[impulse]

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged foreign tourists not to be deterred by deadly wildfires...

 

“Australia is open, Australia is still a wonderful place to come and bring your family and enjoy your holidays,” Morrison told reporters after meeting tourism operators and farmers.

 

They must have stolen the TAT playbook.

 

Edited January 8, 2020 by impulse

[madmen]

Prayuth could learn a lot from this guy

[madmen]

Moneeee number 1 

TIA !!

 

[mstevens]

Had plans to go to Sydney for a week next month but have put them off because of the bad air quality which is not something you expect. The air quality in Sydney is just too bad at the moment (yesterday it was 290+ and significantly worse than Bangkok). When things improve on the air quality front I'll make the trip.

[DoctorG]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

experts link to climate change

They always feel the need to insert this propaganda into every story. 

[rwill]

Perhaps a face mask should be included in the airfare price for those traveling to Australia.  

[ballpoint]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“Australia is open, Australia is still a wonderful place to come and bring your family and enjoy your holidays,” Morrison told reporters

Speaking shortly after returning from his own family holiday in Hawaii.

[Sydebolle]

Yes, help the SMEs of Australia by visiting this beautiful country with lovely people, excellent food and quaffable wines. 

[tandor]

...Australia is now a haven for photographers; the black & white type.

[Opl]

Australian Firefighters Pose With Animals For 2020 Charity Calendar,

[VocalNeal]

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“Australia is open, Australia is still a wonderful place to come and bring your family and enjoy your holidays,” Morrison told reporters after meeting tourism operators and farmers.

Absolutely.

 

It might even be cheaper. Great time to go.

[bristolboy]

3 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

Yes, help the SMEs of Australia by visiting this beautiful country with lovely people, excellent food and quaffable wines. 

As I understand it, fine wines need to breathe. Kind of difficult given the present circumstances.

[Sydebolle]

1 hour ago, bristolboy said:

As I understand it, fine wines need to breathe. Kind of difficult given the present circumstances.

It was more a motivation message to keep on visiting Australia as this helps the SMEs .......

[candide]

Free BBQ promotion!

[madmen]

The US just issues a travel warning against travel to Australia. Not good for the smaller coastal  towns that derive most of their income from tourists

[steven100]

9 minutes ago, madmen said:

The US just issues a travel warning against travel to Australia. Not good for the smaller coastal  towns that derive most of their income from tourists

I hear ya,  but who would want to go and see charcoal koala and smokey mountain

[copa8]

On 1/9/2020 at 1:49 AM, tandor said:

...Australia is now a haven for photographers; the black & white type.

Hey...what does race have to do with it? ????

[tandor]

13 hours ago, copa8 said:

Hey...what does race have to do with it? ????

...very negative comment seeing as their has been a lot of exposure lately.